Rocks Urban Grill and Bar

Rocks and sails may seem like an unlikely pair, but The Sail at Marina Boulevard is where you'll find Rocks Urban Gril and Bar, a chic and tranquil European restaurant by the Emmanuel Stroobant group. Rocks definitely ranks amongst one of my favourite places to dine for its good service and ambience, and may very well be a little secret at One Raffles Quay still unknown to many.

Warm Buns


By Warm Buns I really mean those edible, soft and fluffy ones that Rocks serve to set you going. It's simple - slightly crisp crust and soft centre - yet so satisfying, especially when eaten with creamy and lightly salted butter.

Scallop Carpaccio


The Scallop Carpaccio is a light starter for the light eaters, and therefore is not something I would personally order. Nevertheless, the serving of carpaccio was fresh and smooth and more than makes up for the lack of an amuse-bouche.

Crab Cakes


The Crab Cakes were more of my kind of thing, and I particularly liked the way the garlic, coriander and chili blended so well together. On taste, I have to admit it did not have the wow-factor, and was deeply humbled by the more impressive crab cakes from Mezza9 at Grand Hyatt and - no surprises here - Morton's at Mandarin Oriental.

Cote de Boeuf


A whole kilo of 150-day grain fed Australian beef, this is what we're talking about! The Cote de Boeuf is typically meant for two to share, but I do know of someone who can eat it all up on his own (no, that's not me either, no matter how much I adore my beef). This heavyweight dish was very well done, with the meat tender on almost all parts and the fats chewy where necessary.

Tenderloin Steak


For the classic lovers, the Tenderloin Steak (250gm) would do for you perfectly. Tender, well-charred and with an immaculate pink centre, this won praise at the table and pleased even the more seasoned steak eaters.

Lamb Shank


In contrast, the Lamb Shank was a tad disappointing as it turned out looking (and tasting) more like a stew. From the single forkful I had, the lamb wasn't as tender as the steaks either, so some improvements are needed here.

Duck Confit


The Duck Confit, which I tried on a return visit, was better than average but not something that would really blow you away. It was relatively small and may not be worth the price you're paying for ($32++), and even more so when the main dishes don't come with much complimentary sides. So if you like your potatoes, you could order a jar of fries to share with your dining partner.

Truffle Mashed Potatoes


I would think though that the ladies would appreciate the Truffle Mashed Potatoes a little more than the typical fries, in large part because it's smoother, healthier and more fragrant. Somehow, and surprisingly so, I found myself liking the mashed more than the fries as well.

Sauteed Mushrooms


The Sauteed Mushrooms were sweet, fresh and juicy. If you don't like your salads, you should have some of these to lie to yourself that you're having a "balanced" meal.

Chocolate Fondant


Desserts at Rocks is sadly a pricey (and tiny) affair. At $17++ the Chocolate Fondant was small and uninspiring.

Chessecake


I really liked the smooth and rich Cheesecake, which was topped with a delicious scoop of red berries sherbet and with apricot chutney on the side. If only this could have been bigger, because I'm sure it would have been even more memorable and satisfying.

Service
Excellent.

Price
$24 for the Salmon Carpaccio
$22 for the Crab Cakes
$110 for the Cote de Boeuf
$48 for the Tenderloin (250gm)
$44 for the Ribeye (350gm)
$40 for the Striploin (350gm)
$32 for the Lamb Shank
$32 for the Duck Confit
$8 for a selection of sides, including Fries and Truffle Mashed Potato
$17 for the Chocolate Fondant
$16 for the Cheesecake

* Prices subject to the usual 7% GST and 10% service charge.
* The full menu can be found here.


Place
The Sail, 2 Marina Boulevard.
Next to One Raffles Quay.

Most of the pictures were taken with the Canon EOS 500D.